If someone wants to sell their car, they must be the owner of the car, and furthermore, retain the proper documents to prove it. The most common document used to prove ownership of the vehicle is the car title. To sell your car with the title, you would simply sign it over to the new owner upon transaction. However, not all junk car owners have a car title. After all, many junk cars are older than their owners, making the history of its paperwork very ambiguous. Titles often get lost, stolen, or destroyed in house fires and flood damage. So, when a car owner doesn’t have the title, how can they possibly sell it to someone else? Fortunately for cases like these, you can use other documentation to prove you are the owner of your junk vehicle.

Continue reading to learn the top 4 alternative methods to show proof of ownership of a car so that you can sell it to a buyer.

DMV Paperwork and Proof

One option for a junk car seller without a car title is to ask the Department of Motor Vehicles for assistance. You can fill out specific paperwork at the DMV disclosing all the relevant information about your car, including where it was purchased originally, its mileage, mechanical history, and the last transaction that was made between you and the previous owner or dealer. In this case, it is common for the DMV to require you to make several legitimate and recorded attempts to contact the previous owner of the vehicle and ask about a copy of the car title. You would prove these attempts through a certified letter sent to the previous owner.

Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO)

Also known as the Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO), this document comes with brand new, never-been-owned vehicles purchased at dealerships to prove who manufactured the vehicle. In some cases, this document can be used to prove you own a car when you do not have the title. DMV offices generally accept this as enough proof to assign your name to the car’s registration. From there, you can sell it to a buyer legally.

Bill of Sale and the Registration Certificate

DMV offices are sometimes open to accepting Bill of Sale and registration certificates as proof of ownership for a vehicle. However, this option is not always viable. It depends on the local and state regulations. You must be able to show that a temporary registration certificate was filed, and a bill of sale was completed.

Letter of Release From Lienholder

You must also prove that a vehicle does not have any bank ownership or liens before you can sell it to another buyer. To do so, you would need to present a letter of release from the previous lienholder. Conveniently, this letter is also commonly accepted by DMV offices as proof of ownership without a car title.

How to Sell a Car Without a Title in Louisville

Call GC’s Junk Cars at 502-804-5605 to sell your junk car without a title in Louisville and its surrounding areas. Not only do we accept all vehicles, regardless of age, make, model, and condition, we also payout the highest returns for junk vehicles in Kentucky. Just accept our offer and we will come pick up your junk car! Contact us today to request a free estimate!